Single dental implant

The loss of a tooth could be caused from many different reasons; tooth decay, infection, gum disease, trauma, or removal of an impacted tooth.

A single dental implant from St Martins Dental & Implant Clinic in Hereford is the most functional secure replacement for a missing tooth, allowing you to eat, smile and laugh with confidence.

A single titanium implant is placed into the jaw, as the replacement root. It’s a straightforward process which can be completed under local anaesthetic. The implant will need three to six months to heal and integrate with your jaw bone to provide a solid support for your replacement tooth.

A temporary crown is usually fitted at the same time as your implant placement, which will stay in place until the final restoration appointment.

Once your jaw has healed, an abutment will be fixed to the implant to hold your replacement tooth (crown) in place. Abutments are produced in titanium, gold or porcelain, and can come as a standard fit or crafted specifically for you. These options offer a range of aesthetics results, depending on your requirements.

A crown is then fitted on top, to replace your missing tooth. Your Hereford dentist will carefully match the colour of your crown to your natural teeth. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with us.

Treatments

Multiple dental implants

If you’re missing more than one tooth, there are a number of options available to you at St Martins Dental & Implant Clinic.

Related FAQs

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Parkdale

What is a dental implant?

When a tooth falls out, the root which normally holds it in place is lost as well. This means there is then nothing to hold a replacement tooth in place. A dental implant solves this problem by using a titanium fixture to replicate the function of the tooth’s natural root.

The implant is placed into the jaw where it fuses with the bone. Like your natural root, it then provides a foundation. This provides a secure point onto which a crown can be placed, replacing the missing tooth.

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Parkdale

Does it matter if I have missing teeth?

A natural smile and a healthy mouth are important for your confidence, but it is important to replace missing teeth for health reasons as well.

Some of the health reasons to replace missing teeth are:

If you have missing teeth, the way your jaw opens and closes can be affected. This can result in a condition called TMJ dysfunction (or TMD), which is extremely painful and requires surgery in extreme cases.

Gaps between the teeth can allow the movement of other teeth into these spaces. These surrounding teeth become increasingly susceptible to decay and gum disease, which can result in them being lost as well.

Once teeth have gone, it results in bone loss. This not only shortens your face and ages it, but can cause other teeth to become loose which are then at risk of falling out. Your features droop and can appear prematurely aged.